The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-08-04


A business meeting was held and
Mr.. George William Curtis was
unanimously elected president and ac'
cspted the Office In a few brief 70.
marks. Reports from forty various rs
eocistions were made Mr.. Bonaparte,
OF Baltimore, was called upon TO tell
fometbiDg about Higgins. He thought,
however, Higgins ought TO be LETT alone
until the report OF the Committee on
r. soludons was received, as he
would probably form large part OF
the report. He had heard IL suggested
that President Cleveland desired the
reform system to have an awful exam:
pie and had selected the federal sys-
lem Of Maryland az that example. II
so. ho thought the experiment had
been successful. Senalor FOulke, OF
Indisps, reported that his association
Was advancing the cause Of reform Ia
hat State. He sverred that all OF In-
diana 10 run by mschine and the Re-
fern Association Ia bound hand and
foot aud consigned to the spoiler. Toe
Committee on Resolutions reported o.
follows.
First-The National Civil Service
Rafom League, while acknowledging
lhs many excellent appointments
made by the present administration,
the frequent instances Of executive
disregard Of merely partisan demands
aud conspicuous instances of the re.
tension Of satisfactory officers during
their term, has yet learned with pro.
found regret that the change In the
civil eeryice Ia 30 great az 20 forecast
its complete partisan reconstruction
by tbs cloee OF the administration.
The League does not believe sue q
change To have been required nor jus.
died by the public desire or expecta-
ton, holding that the changes OF In
ferior oGcers should moi be made for
partisan reason ore merely for the pur.
pogs Il making places for others, II
regards the action Of the mioistra-
ton In this respect a. tending to con.
firm The syetem OF abuses which the
League eeeks 10 reform and as furnish.
log mischievouB precedent for other
admluistrations.
Notwithstanding this action the I'M
precedented prominence which the
question has acquired In public atten-
ton, the partisan complaints that all
former ipcumbenta we're not dismissed
at once on the one hand aud on the
Other the complaints by the frieods OF
rforn at the failures to maintain It's
principles. a. well 40 the public dis.
ialisiaction With the unfortunate re-
aults which have In many cases fol.
loved such failures. All attest signal
progress In reform aud offer the strong
est assurances Of the rapid growth u
q public sentiment which will heartily
sustain q rcsolute enforcement OF re-
form principles.
Secopd-0n July IA, 1885, the Pres
ident sddiosed 9 circular to certain
o&sers Of the government warning
them against obtrasivs par;isanship,
manipulation OF party meetings and
nsminating conventions, and all die
tatlou Of party action. The circular
was designed TO correct one OF the
gravest OF abuses In the civil service,
the interference OF oiHcs holders with
elections. IL 10 publicly and respon.
alb alleged that, at the recent pri.
mag elections In Baltimore, this ex.
ecutivs circular was defed by certain
fedsra officers. The Maryland Civil
Service Reform Association IL res.
ped ly requested, on behalf Of the
LssgS, TO investigate these charged,
and 10 report the facts and tho evl.
desoo 20 the executive committee 10
the end that should the facts, as al
legged. be estsbl shed, the lie igue,
thSoueh In executive Commute In con-
c.rt with the Maryland Association,
nay esnee,ly and respectfully reqnest
the President TO promptly dismlss the
Offenders
Tbri-The league respectfully
r,n vs. iis roc )mmend nion that
the application OF the civil
oWyice rues ehould be ex-
tended 10 tho u elrict OF C,lum-
ida, TO the postal NATL service, 20 the
mint service, 10 the clerical force, In
the Iadlan servics, and 10 other Of.
q o. where a ,male force than fifty
clerks arc required, aud Il further rec
onmenda that assistant heads Of bu.
reaus and heads OF divisions should
bs INCLUDED with the classified service
because the treatment OF tuch place 9
as political oilicrs TO be changed with
q change Of sdminirira ION involves
the greatest detrimeot 10 the eervice
~ we'll a. the other evils, which
rprinG from unTea enable ofii "a
cnangca.
Fourh-The people Of the United
sstcs are entitled 60 know the rot
soma Tor he appointment or rejection
Of all oaieers In their esrvice or pro
posed for such employment, aud this
Senate shou d consider nomination.
In open season.
Fiith-Pnblic officers lntrus,ed with
The power Of appointment and 70.
moval should be required by Law OF
sx outive order 10 plsoe upon publi,
record all appointments, remova 9 and
retignations, and the roe ms for eyery
removal made by them, and In appoint
Ing ofli ien, when in their discretion
tboy 90 not 90 ect those rated highest
upon tho eligible lists presented tC
thssn. they should se required In each
casS to hle their rea,ons for such 90
ton.
n xih-The acts which limit the
tenure OF inferior officers TO four year,
should be repealed. 10 q baueiul sourc,
OF intrigue aud corruption, f1reisr
aiiksto republican principles aud q
sound businos methods. No life OF
ro< nanent tenure Office ehould IN
created, but Competency, fidelity and
rood behavior, 20 Ia the case OF pri
vac sgonts, should DO a. Il was In th,
carly dsys Of the governmsnt-th,
sole condition OF the continuance o
employment Ia The public service.
bevonth-The League earnestly
fccommends 10 its constituent associa
tiore tha, the aseooiaiiona In thos,
stats wheie TO civil service Law hai
q = a a